Why Apprenticeships Matter

Few employment schemes offer the same level of hands-on experience and real-world learning than apprenticeships. These positions empower people looking to start or change their careers by bridging the gap between their education and future aspirations.

Not only is it beneficial for the individual but also invaluable for organisations which are looking to develop and nurture talent within the workforce. It is this combination of investing in local people and offering long-term future opportunities that led Wigan Council to lead the way by boosting the availability of apprenticeships across the borough and we couldn’t be prouder of the results.

Over the past few years, hundreds of apprentices have passed through the doors of the town hall and the council has consistently beaten its own targets. In 2021, we pledged to create 100 new apprenticeship and graduate jobs within three years, yet we achieved this in just 12 months. These placements created opportunities in a vast range of careers - from plasterers, plumbers, social workers and accountants to business administrators and roles in customer services.

Last year, this commitment to developing the careers of people across our borough saw the council named a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer by the Department for Education - the only council in the country to receive this accolade in?2023.

Now, a study by tech startup Multiverse named Wigan Borough, ‘the best place to be an apprentice’ in England. The research was based on several factors, including the number of apprentices per business, growth in the number of new apprentices and the area's employment rate.

The study shows that it is no longer just the local authority fully embracing the potential of apprentices but business across our borough. We have supported this through our flagship Future Apprentices for Business (FAB) programme which has seen more than ￡250k allocated to organisations across the borough to employ apprentices. During the past 12 months, 68 businesses had their applications approved and nearly 40 apprentices started new roles, with dozens more preparing to start.

Among the businesses offering apprenticeships in Wigan Borough is Heinz. In November last year, the company offered five apprenticeship positions to young people leaving care. One of the apprentices, ?Owen, 19, is now aiming to work his way up the industry ladder to work in management and he plans to secure higher-level qualifications along the way. He has also become an ambassador for the company, supporting new trainees.

Owen said at the time: “I’ve come from the streets to where I am today, and it hasn’t been easy, but I feel like I’m smashing it at work now.”

We also work closely with Wigan and Leigh College, which is now the largest college provider of apprenticeships across Greater Manchester, with more than 50 apprenticeship pathways and working ?with more than 1,500 employers; health & social care and catering to bricklaying, business and more.

With hundreds of apprentices now working all across our borough, we are seeing a huge boost to the number of skilled individuals who are gaining on the job training and are now capable of contributing to a more skilled and qualified workforce. This in turn, helps drive economic growth in our region.

Wigan Council will continue to lead the way by creating apprentice opportunities directly within our services, while also investing in local businesses which offer new opportunities to our residents. We are so proud of businesses across Wigan Borough, as well as our education providers such as Wigan and Leigh College, ?and all the apprentices that have worked so hard to give our town recognition as the most exciting place to be as an apprentice.